Camera and Autoguider Setup

The table below lists the drivers that are included with the current release of MaxIm DL, as well as some drivers available from third-party sources. Additional third party drivers may be available but not listed; consult the equipment manufacturer for more information.

Third-party plug-in drivers are normally installed by placing their files in the MaxIm DL program installation directory and then restarting MaxIm DL. The manufacturer may provide an installation program for adding the files to MaxIm DL. Please refer to the documentation included with the driver for additional installation and setup information. Also please note Diffraction Limited cannot provide technical support for third-party plug-ins.

Some plug-in drivers have been declared obsolete since the devices in question are no longer manufactured. These plug-ins are no longer actively maintained, but are still available by downloading the Obsolete Camera Driver pack.

Note that depending on the software level you purchased, you may only be able to run some of the listed cameras.

If you wish to write your own driver, you can use the ASCOM Standard camera interface, or request our native MaxIm DL API through technical support (use Help menu Technical Support).

Camera Model

Installation

Select in MaxIm DL

ASCOM compliant cameras

ASCOM Platform and any drivers supplied with the camera must be installed. See manufacturer's instructions for more information.

ASCOM

Andor Technology

Andor drivers supplied with the camera must be installed. The "detector.ini" file for the camera will also be required.

Andor Tech for all models.

Apogee Instruments

Drivers for Apogee Alta and Ascent are included; however we recommend that you install any driver update included with the camera.

Apogee AP, KX, and SPH are supported via the optional Obsolete Driver pack.

Apogee Alta for Alta cameras

Atik

Atik-16 rivers are supplied by the manufacturer, including the plug-in driver for MaxIm DL. See camera instruction manual for more information.

For Atik-16 consult manufacturer's instructions.

For 8-bit cameras use Video DS driver.

Audine and Genesis

Drivers for parallel port operation are included. For USB operation you must download and install the "D2XX Direct Drivers from http://ftdichip.com/FTD2XXDriver.htm.

Audine

Canon EOS

The latest canon software should be installed and working. The camera should be set to PC mode instead of printer mode for connection. See EOS driver details for more settings.

Canon EOS or

Canon EOS 2

Celestron PixCel cameras

Supported via the optional Obsolete Driver pack.

 

DTA

Drivers are supplied by the manufacturer, including the plug-in driver for MaxIm DL.

Consult manufacturer's instructions.

Cookbook CB245

Supported via the optional Obsolete Driver pack.

 

Finger Lakes Instrumentation

FLI drivers must be installed separately. They are available from http://www.flicamera.com

Finger Lakes for USB and Ethernet cameras

Hi-SIS

Supported via the optional Obsolete Driver pack.

Hi-SIS 22 or Hi-SIS 44

ISI CCD800, CCD1600

Drivers are supplied by the manufacturer, including the plug-in driver for MaxIm DL.

 

Lumenera

Lumenera drivers must be installed.

Lumenera

Meade DSI series (all models)

The latest version of Meade Envisage software and drivers must be installed before this camera will operate.

Meade DSI

Meade LPI

The latest version of Meade Envisage software must be installed before this camera will operate. (The LPI can also be operated through the Video DirectShow driver.)

Meade LPI or Video DS

Meade 208XT, 216XT, 416XT

Supported via the optional Obsolete Driver pack.

 

Nikon DSLR

All required drivers are built in.

Nikon DSLR

Olympus DSLR

Installer is included in C:\Program Files\Diffraction Limited\MaxIm DL V5\Olympus

Olympus DSLR

Opus I

Opus drivers must be installed.

Opus I

Optronics Macrofire

Optronics Macrofire drivers must be installed.

Optronics

Orion StarShoot Deep-Space II and Pro

Drivers are included on the software disk provided with the camera. Insert the CD-ROM prior to plugging in the camera.

Orion StarShoot Deep Space Imager for all current models.

Orion StarShoot Deep-Space I (original version)

Supported via the optional Obsolete Driver pack. Drivers are included on the software disk provided with the camera. Insert the CD-ROM prior to plugging in the camera.

Orion StarShoot Deep-Space Imager 1 for original version only.

Orion StarShoot Solar System

Drivers are included on the software disk provided with the camera. Insert the CD-ROM and click Install Driver.

Video DirectShow

Orion StarShoot Autoguider

Drivers are included on the software disk provided with the camera.

Orion StarShoot Autoguider

Quantum Scientific Imaging

Drivers are included on the software disk provided with the camera.

QSI Universal

Roper (Princeton and Photometrics models)

Roper cameras are supported using the Roper PVCam software, provided with the camera. This software must be installed and configured before you can link to the camera.

Roper PVCAM

SBIG

SBIG provides drivers for all cameras that are currently in production, except the STV. The SBIGDriverChecker, supplied with the camera, is used to install and update the drivers. It includes a built-in download facility. If you do not have this installed, you can fetch it from ftp://ftp.sbig.com/pub/SetupDriverChecker.exe.

Serial port cameras including the ST-4, ST-5, ST-6 and STV are supported via the optional Obsolete Driver pack.

SBIG Universal for all parallel port, USB, and Ethernet cameras, including ST and STL series.

SBIG w/AO when using an AO tip/tilt guider option.

SACImaging

8-bit cameras supported via Video DS

The 16-bit SAC10 is supported via the optional Obsolete Driver pack.

Video DS for 8-bit SAC cameras that support DirectShow capture.

Sigma

Drivers are available from the manufacturer at http://www.nova-ccd.de/

SIGMA. Please consult manufacturer's instructions for more information.

Simulator

Useful for testing purposes, this selection emulates the operation of a camera. No drivers are required.

Simulator

Starlight Xpress

Drivers from Starlight Xpress must be installed. All USB camera models are supported; however, older USB 1.1 cameras require updated firmware (see Hex Manager).

Parallel port camera are supported via the optional Obsolete Driver pack. The Obsolete Driver pack also includes "native" drivers for most of the USB 1.1 cameras; however we recommend updating the firmware and using SX Universal instead.

SX Universal for all USB-based camera models and the SX AO unit. Old USB 1.1 cameras require special firmware (hex file) installation.

 

Video DirectShow

Video sources such as webcams, VIVO video cards, frame grabbers, and FireWire inputs are supported using this interface. It works through the Microsoft DirectX platform; it is therefore recommended that you install the latest version of DirectX, available from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/. Also any drivers provided with your device must be installed; again we recommend updating to the latest version available from the manufacturer's web site.

Video DS